The 2026 World Baseball Classic is quickly approaching, and the United States has started putting together a team it hopes can emerge victorious. Paul Skenes has already been named to the squad, and Garrett Crochet of the Boston Red Sox is interested in joining him.
According to MassLive’s Chris Cotillo, Crochet is “interested in pitching for Team USA,” but has not had any formal conversations with manager Mark DeRosa.
“I haven’t heard anything,” Crochet said, according to Cotillo. “I don’t know how it works or when people reach out. Obviously, it would be a huge honor. I’d hope the organization would view it as an honor as well. If I was asked, I’d definitely enjoy participating and I’d love to participate. But right now, my focus is on continuing to build on the season I’ve had.”
Crochet was named an All-Star this season, marking the second straight year he has earned the honor. He was traded from the Chicago White Sox to the Red Sox in the offseason and signed a six-year, $170 million extension. This year, he has a 2.39 ERA and 151 strikeouts in 120 1/3 innings of work.
Crochet and Skenes in the same rotation would be huge for the United States. However, the Red Sox would have to allow their ace to participate, as he noted.
Pitching will be a hot topic for the United States as they put together a squad. They have talented arms to choose from, like Crochet, Tarik Skubal, Max Fried, Zack Wheeler and others. The difficult part will be getting those players to miss out on spring training, potentially hurting their readiness for the regular season, and their teams allowing them to play.
The United States will play its pool play games in Houston, and having Crochet on the mound would be huge. Brazil, Great Britain, Italy and Mexico are the four other teams in the pool with the United States. The first game of the 2026 World Baseball Classic will take place on March 5, and the full schedule can be found below.
Full 2026 World Baseball Classic Schedule
All times local
March 5
Noon JST – Chinese Taipei vs. Australia – Tokyo Dome
7 p.m. JST – Czechia vs. South Korea – Tokyo Dome
March 6
Noon JST – Australia vs. Czechia – Tokyo Dome
Noon CST – Mexico vs. Great Britain – Daikin Park
Noon EST – The Netherlands vs. Venezuela – loanDepot Park
Noon AST – Cuba vs. Panama – Hiram Bithorn Stadium
7 p.m. JST – Japan vs. Chinese Taipei – Tokyo Dome
7 p.m. CST – United States vs. Brazil – Daikin Park
7 p.m. EST – Nicaragua vs. Dominican Republic – loanDepot Park
7 p.m. AST – Puerto Rico vs. Colombia – Hiram Bithorn Stadium
March 7
Noon JST – Chinese Taipei vs. Czechia – Tokyo Dome
Noon CST – Mexico vs. Great Britain – Daikin Park
Noon EST – Nicaragua vs. The Netherlands – loanDepot Park
Noon AST – Colombia vs. Canada – Hiram Bithorn Stadium
7 p.m. JST – South Korea vs. Japan – Tokyo Dome
7 p.m. CST – Great Britain vs. United States – Daikin Park
7 p.m. EST – Israel vs. Venezuela – loanDepot Park
7 p.m. AST – Panama vs. Puerto Rico – Hiram Bithorn Stadium
March 8
Noon JST – Chinese Taipei vs. South Korea – Tokyo Dome
Noon CST – Great Britain vs. Italy – Daikin Park
Noon EST – The Netherlands vs. Dominican Republic – loanDepot Park
Noon AST – Colombia vs. Cuba – Hiram Bithorn Stadium
7 p.m. JST – Australia vs. Japan – Tokyo Dome
7 p.m. CST – Brazil vs. Mexico – Daikin Park
7 p.m. EST – Nicaragua vs. Israel – loanDepot Park
7 p.m. AST – Panama vs. Canada – Hiram Bithorn Stadium
March 9
Noon JST – South Korea vs. Australia – Tokyo Dome
Noon CST – Brazil vs. Great Britain – Daikin Park
Noon EST – Dominican Republic vs. Israel – loanDepot Park
Noon AST – Colombia vs. Panama – Hiram Bithorn Stadium
7 p.m. JST – Czechia vs. Japan – Tokyo Dome
7 p.m. CST – Mexico vs. United States – Daikin Park
7 p.m. EST – Venezuela vs. Nicaragua – loanDepot Park
7 p.m. AST – Cuba vs. Puerto Rico – Hiram Bithorn Stadium
March 10
7 p.m. AST – Canada vs. Puerto Rico – Hiram Bithorn Stadium
7 p.m. EST – Israel vs. Nicaragua – loanDepot Park
8 p.m. CST – Italy vs. United States – Daikin Park
March 11
3 p.m. AST – Canada vs. Cuba – Hiram Bithorn Stadium
6 p.m. CST – Italy vs. Mexico – Daikin Park
8 p.m. EST – Dominican Republic vs. Nicaragua – loanDepot Park
Quarterfinals
March 13 – 6:30 p.m. EST – loanDepot Park
March 13 – 8 p.m. EST – Daikin Park
March 14 – 3 p.m. EST – Daikin Park
March 14 – 9 p.m. EST – loanDepot Park
Semifinals
March 15 – 8 p.m. EST – loanDepot Park
March 16 – 8 p.m. EST – loanDepot Park
Championship Game
March 17 – 8 p.m. EST – loanDepot Park
Photo: Boston Red Sox pitcher Garrett Crochet throws to the Texas Rangers in the first inning of an opening-day baseball game, Thursday, March 27, 2025, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
